Cabinet - Tuesday, 4th April, 2017 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes
Venue: Concorde Room, Council Offices, Farnborough
Contact: Chris Todd, Democratic Services on 01252 398825 or e-mail: chris.todd@rushmoor.gov.uk
No. | Item | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 7th March, 2017 (copy attached). Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 7th March, 2017 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
REVENUE BUDGET MONITORING AND FORECASTING 2016/17 - POSITION AT MARCH, 2017 PDF 310 KB To consider the Head of Financial Services’ (Amanda Fahey) Report No. FIN1713 (copy attached), which sets out the Council’s anticipated financial position for 2016/17 based on the monitoring exercise carried out during March, 2017. Presented By: Councillor Paul Taylor, Corporate Services Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet considered the Head
of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1713, which set out the anticipated
financial position for 2016/17, based on the monitoring exercise carried out
during March 2017. It was proposed that, should the savings reported in Section
3 of the Report be realised, then transfers should be made to and from the
Stability and Resilience Reserve and the
Service Improvement Fund to leave the General Fund balance at £2 million, which
was at the top of the range set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy. The
Report explained that several variances had been identified
and these were set out in Appendix B to the Report. The Cabinet RESOLVED
that (i)
the latest Revenue Budget monitoring position, as set out in the Head of
Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1713,
be noted; (ii)
the estimates for the
use of the Service Improvement Fund, as
set out in the Report, be approved; and (iii)
the transfers between the General Fund, the Stability and Resilience
Reserve and the Service Improvement Fund, as set out in the Report, be approved
in principle, subject to the final outturn position. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CAPITAL PROGRAMME MONITORING AND FORECASTING 2016/17 - POSITION AT MARCH, 2017 PDF 223 KB To consider the Head of Financial Services’ (Amanda Fahey) Report No. FIN1714 (copy attached), which sets out the Council’s position regarding the Capital Programme for 2016/17 based on the monitoring exercise carried out during March, 2017. Presented By: Councillor Paul Taylor, Corporate Services Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet received the Head of
Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1714, which provided the latest forecast
regarding the Council’s Capital Programme for 2016/17, based on the monitoring
exercise carried out during February and March 2017. The Report advised that
the Capital Programme for 2016/17, following additions approved during the
year, totalled £28,107,000. The recent monitoring exercise had identified that,
due to a number of slippages and underspends, the forecasted outturn was
approximately £25,407,000, with a forecasted shortfall of £2,700,000 against
the approved Programme. The identified areas of slippage were set out in the
Report. The Cabinet RESOLVED
that (i)
the latest Capital
Programme monitoring position, as set out in the Head of Financial Services’
Report No. FIN1714, be noted; and (ii)
the 2016/17 capital
budget virement of £52,000 from the Beaumont Wall
railings scheme to the main wall renovations scheme, as set out in the Report,
be approved. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
STRATEGY FOR THE FLEXIBLE USE OF CAPITAL RECEIPTS 2017/18 PDF 275 KB To consider the Head of Financial Services’ (Amanda Fahey) Report No. FIN1715 (copy attached), which sets out a draft strategy for the flexible use of capital receipts for 2017/18, for submission to the Council. Presented By: Councillor Paul Taylor, Corporate Services Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet received the Head of Financial Services' Report No. FIN1713,
which provided an update on the flexible use of capital receipts, as approved
at the Council Meeting on 21st April, 2016 and set out
the planned strategy for 2017/18. Members were reminded that the Council had set a strategy in April 2016 to
take advantage of the favourable short term relaxation
of expenditure rules relating to the treatment of costs as capital expenditure.
Guidance relating to the scheme required that the Council should produce an
annual strategy and also provide an update on projects
approved in previous years, and these were set out in the Report. Members were
supportive of the approach being taken. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NEW DISCRETIONARY RATE RELIEF POLICY - GROWTH INCENTIVE RELIEF POLICY PDF 675 KB To consider the Head of Financial Services’ (Amanda Fahey) Report No. FIN1716 (copy attached), which sets out a proposed new policy to attract inward investment and economic growth. Presented By: Councillor Gareth Lyon, Concessions and Community Support Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet RESOLVED that the adoption
of the new Growth Incentive Relief Policy, as set out in the Head of Financial
Services’ Report No. FIN1716, be approved. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
REVIEW OF CORPORATE INVESTIGATIONS TEAM PDF 937 KB To consider the Head of Financial Services’ (Amanda Fahey) Report No. FIN1717 (copy attached), which sets out proposals in respect of the Council’s Corporate Investigations Officers. Presented By: Councillor Paul Taylor, Corporate Services Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet considered the Head of Financial
Services’ Report No. FIN1717, which set out the work undertaken by the
Council’s Investigations Officers during the period January 2016 to March 2017
and proposed the retention of the two posts. Members were informed that the team had, over
the previous year, carried out investigatory work that had resulted in
financial savings to the Council of £267,939, with over 2,300 individual cases
looked at. The budget for the team in 2017/18 was £98,120. The Cabinet was supportive of the work being
carried out in this area and agreed that the proposal represented good value to
the Council. The Cabinet RESOLVED that the retention of the two posts within the Council’s Corporate Investigations Team, as set out in the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1717, be approved. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RUSHMOOR LOCAL PLAN - DRAFT SUBMISSION CONSULTATION PDF 15 MB To consider the Head of Planning’s (Keith Holland) Report No. PLN1701 (copy attached), which sets out the draft submission Rushmoor Local Plan for consultation. Presented By: Councillor Martin Tennant, Environment and Service Delivery Portfolio Holder Minutes: In response to questions, Members were
informed that, whilst some hard copies would be available during the
consultation period, consultees would be encouraged to access the document
electronically. It was explained that neighbouring
authorities were at varying stages in the production of their Local Plans but
Members were assured that this would not have a material effect on Rushmoor or
the production of the Rushmoor Local Plan. The Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO THE
COUNCIL that (i)
the draft
Rushmoor Local Plan, as set out at Annex A to the Head of Planning’s Report No.
PLN1701, be approved for public consultation; (ii)
the
changes to the Policies Map, as set out at Annex B to the Report, be approved
for public consultation; and (iii)
the Head of
Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Service
Delivery, be authorised to make any necessary minor amendments, including any
necessary changes arising from the Environment Policy and Review Panel, to the
Local Plan, Policies Map and supporting documentation, prior to the
commencement of public consultation. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PROPOSED INCREASE IN PLANNING APPLICATION FEES PDF 138 KB To consider the Head of Planning’s (Keith Holland) Report No. PLN1702 (copy attached), which sets out details of an urgency decision taken in respect of an increase in the level of planning application fees. Presented By: Councillor Ken Muschamp, Business, Safety and Regulation Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet considered the Head
of Planning’s Report No. PLN1702, which notified the Cabinet of an urgency
decision to approve an increase in planning application fees by 20% from July
2017. It was confirmed that the Department for Communities and Local Government
had written to all local planning authorities allowing them to increase the
nationally set planning application fees, so long as the additional fee income
would be invested in the planning department. It was not known at this point
exactly how the additional income would be spent. In response to a question, it
was confirmed that the relatively small increase in fees was not likely to
deter potential developers. The Cabinet RESOLVED
that the actions taken, as set out in the Head of Planning’s Report No.
PLN1702, be noted. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CUSTOMER AND DIGITAL STRATEGY PDF 3 MB To consider the Head of IT and Facilities Services’ (Nick Harding) Report No. IT1701 (copy attached), which sets out the Council’s draft Customer and Digital Strategy, for submission to the Council on 20th April, 2017. Presented By: Councillor Paul Taylor, Corporate Services Portfolio Holder Minutes: It was explained that
that the proposed Customer and Digital Strategy pulled together in one document
the Council’s digital ambitions, five key themes and action plans and set out
the Council’s general direction of travel in this area. In response to a
question, Members were informed that the Council was likely to move towards
cloud based solutions in the relatively short term. Information was provided on
the opportunities of smart cities and the future challenges of addressing digital
inclusion and cyber security. The Cabinet was supportive of the Strategy and
the approach being proposed. The Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL that the Council’s Customer and Digital Strategy 2017 - 2020, as set out in the Head of IT and Facilities Services’ Report No. IT1701, be approved. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FIRST WESSEX REQUEST FOR ALLOCATION OF CAPITAL GRANT FUNDING PDF 2 MB To consider the Head of Environmental Health and Housing’s (Qamer Yasin) Report No. EHH1710 (copy attached), which sets out a request from First Wessex for an allocation of Capital Grant for a scheme of new affordable homes. Presented By: Councillor Barbara Hurst, Health and Housing Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet considered the Head of
Environmental Health and Housing’s Report No. EHH1710, which set out a request
from First Wessex for the allocation of £46,000 from the Council’s budget for
Capital Grants to Registered Providers of Social Housing 2017/18 for a scheme
of new affordable homes. The allocation, along with other funding streams,
would facilitate the delivery of four three-bedroom, family homes, with the
Council having 100% nomination rights on the first lets. It was anticipated
that construction would start in late Spring 2017. The Cabinet RESOLVED that the allocation of £46,000 from the Council’s budget for Capital Grants to Registered Providers of Social Housing 2017/18, as set out in the Head of Environmental Health and Housing’s Report No. EHH1710, be approved. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GRANTS TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS PDF 188 KB To consider the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ (Peter Amies) Report No. COMM1709 (copy attached), which sets out applications for grants from voluntary organisations. Presented By: Councillor Gareth Lyon, Concessions and Community Support Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet (i) NOTED that the following grants totalling £2,850 had been approved by the Cabinet Member for Concessions and Community Support:
(ii) NOTED that the following Ward Community Grants totalling £3,350 had been approved by the Cabinet Member for Concessions and Community Support:
(iii) RESOLVED that grants of £2,000 to Pinewood Family Group Pre-school and £1,500 to The Vine Centre be approved. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC To consider resolving: That, subject to the public interest test, the public be excluded from this meeting during the discussion of the undermentioned item to avoid the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraphs of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against such items: Item Schedule Category No. 12A Para. No. 13 3 Information
relating to financial or business affairs Minutes: RESOLVED: That, taking into account the public interest test, the public be
excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the under mentioned item to
avoid the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraph of Schedule 12A
to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against the item: Minute Schedule Category No. 12A Para. No. 120 3 Information relating to
financial or business affairs |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS CONSIDERED IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PUBLIC |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FORMER OPERATIONAL PROPERTIES AT MANOR PARK, ALDERSHOT To consider the Solicitor to the Council’s (Ann Greaves) Exempt Report No. LEG1707 (copy attached), which seeks approval for the disposal of freehold land. Presented By: Councillor Paul Taylor, Corporate Services Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Cabinet considered the Solicitor to the Council’s Exempt Report No.
LEG1707, which set out a proposed course of action in relation to two former
operational properties situated within Manor Park, Aldershot, known as Manor
Park Cottage and Manor Park Lodge. Members heard that both properties had been let out to housing
associations for some years but had now been vacated and handed back to the
Council, on expiration of their most recent leases. It was explained that the
plot in relation to Manor Park Cottage was large enough to accommodate an
additional dwelling and it was proposed that planning permission should be
sought to achieve this. It was proposed to refurbish and then let Manor Park
Cottage. It was reported that Manor Park Lodge was good condition and was not
in need of refurbishment. An amendment to the recommendation was agreed to give
authority to the Solicitor to the Council, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, to
decide whether to dispose of or let Manor Park Lodge. The Cabinet RESOLVED that |